Following similar agreements with the Oneida Nation, which is the only sportsbook currently live in Wisconsin, and St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin, which is yet to launch its sports betting offering, state Governor Tony Evans has approved the Potawatomi Hotel and Casino for in-person sports betting.
Final approval, which is needed before plans can get underway, is expected within 45 days.
Tony Evers, Governor of Wisconsin, commented: “I am glad for the good work of Chairman Daniels, the Forest County Potawatomi, and the folks at the Department of Administration to get this done, so folks can enjoy sports and other event wagering in our state while benefitting the tribe’s economic growth.
“I look forward to continuing our partnership together to find new opportunities that support and bolster the tribe’s success and our state’s success for years to come.”
Ned Daniels, Chairman, Forest County Potawatomi Community, commented: “We appreciate Governor Evers and his administration working with us in a government-to-government manner to provide our tribe the tools needed to compete in the marketplace; and giving us the business certainty to continue our investments in Milwaukee and throughout the state.”
It is hoped that this, and other agreements like it, will help to curtail unauthorised sports betting in Wisconsin, a state which has done little to progress its sports wagering options since the Supreme Court ruling, in May 2018.
Gabriel Burkhalter, General Manager, Who’s on Third Sports Bar, said: “Now people feel comfortable, now they feel like it's allowed. So now they're going to be coming in and betting on different things, maybe interested in other games.
“I think it's only going to be helpful. It's going to bring in more money. A lot more people are going to feel comfortable betting.”
There is currently no date planned for the launch of online sports betting in the state.
